Trans'Henson

Trans'Henson: The Spectacular Migration of the Baie de Somme Horses

Each autumn, the Baie de Somme, a Grand Site of France and one of the most beautiful bays in the world, is the stage for a natural and equestrian spectacle of striking beauty: the Trans'Henson. This great equestrian migration, the most significant in France, sees hundreds of golden-dun colored Henson horses cross the vast expanses of sand, salt marshes, dunes, and marshes of the bay, guided by their riders, in a majestic ballet that fascinates spectators and photographers.

An Ancestral Migration Modernized

The Trans'Henson perpetuates an ancestral practice: the migration of herds between summer pastures and winter meadows. For Henson horses, this migration is not a folkloric vestige but an ecological and agronomic necessity. During the summer months, the horses graze in the vast natural areas of Marquenterre and the Baie de Somme nature reserve, contributing through their grazing to the maintenance of dune environments and wet meadows. In autumn, they return to more sheltered meadows to spend the winter.

Since its creation in the early 1990s, the Trans'Henson has transformed this seasonal movement into a festive and educational event that allows the general public to discover the Henson horse and the natural riches of the Baie de Somme. In 2024, the Trans'Henson celebrated its 34th edition, demonstrating the longevity and appeal of this unique event.

The Route: A Ride Between Land and Sea

The Trans'Henson route is a spectacle in itself. Riders and their mounts depart from the Espace Équestre Henson-Marquenterre in Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont and cross landscapes of exceptional diversity: estuaries with shimmering waters, wet meadows dotted with wild flora, wind-swept dune cords, and back-dune marshes populated by migratory birds. The sight of hundreds of golden horses silhouetted against the immensity of the sand and sky is a spectacle of extraordinary visual power.

Spectators who are not riders can follow the migration on foot, following a hiking route parallel to the equestrian course. This walk, which crosses the same magnificent landscapes, offers a memorable experience of discovering the Baie de Somme.

A Sunday of Celebration in Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont

The Trans'Henson is also a day of celebration. After the horses arrive in the early afternoon, equestrian activities, educational workshops on the fauna and flora of the Baie de Somme, a local producers' market, and shows liven up the site throughout the afternoon. The traditional moules-frites (mussels and fries) meal, benefiting the commune's social works, is a popular convivial gathering.

The Henson Horse: Ambassador of the Baie de Somme

The Henson horse is inseparable from the Baie de Somme. This breed, created in the 1970s from crosses between the Norwegian Fjord and the Selle Français, was specifically developed to adapt to the climatic and ecological conditions of the Picardy coast. Robust, enduring, calm, and versatile, the Henson is perfectly suited for equestrian trekking, driving, and ecological management of natural environments through grazing. Approximately 1,200 Hensons live in France today, with 200 on the Marquenterre site.